Lake Orion's Baldwin Café stars in TV series in development

Actors in a new TV show being filmed at the Baldwin Cafe in Lake Orion: Baldwin Cafe owner Bert, played by Col. Neil Megroet of Gingellville (from left to right); Sal Gamboli, played by Rocco Guirlanda of Commerce Township; and Sal's wife, Rose Gamboli, played by Lauren Candela from Troy and director/writer Mike Sneed from Garden City. Photo by Stephanie Preweda

Actors in a new TV show being filmed at the Baldwin Cafe in Lake Orion: New incoming waitress Erin, played by Lisa Truckell of Rochester next to waitress Nikki, played by Allison Megroet of Berkley, waitress Candace, played by Caroline McClure and waitress Rose, played by Lauren Candela of Troy. Photo by Stephanie Preweda

A new pure Michigan, half-hour comedy/drama TV series is being filmed at The Baldwin Café in Lake Orion.

The entire cast and crew is from different parts of the mitten, including director, writer and executive producer Mike Sneed of Garden City and co-producer Col. Neil Patterson from Gingellville, an unincorporated town near Lake Orion.

Since 1976, Baldwin Café has been a landmark in Lake Orion and the surrounding area.

Sneed wrote the script a bit different from most modern day sitcoms, The Baldwin Café has a few different plot lines and is so far written like a soap opera with stories that continue from week to week.

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"I was looking for a café to use in my feature film 'A Grain of Sand' and didn't use it," Sneed said. "After I got done shooting, the idea of a café started cookin' in my head about creating interesting characters."

He said the script was written based on the café and that "truthfully, it's less about the café than about the people and characters."

The series revolves around café owner Bert, played by Patterson, who is in debt to mobster Sal, played by Rocco Guirlanda.

Starting in the spring of last year, several episodes are completed and at least four more episodes will be filmed within the next month or so, Patterson said.

FYI: A new Michigan-made TV series, "Baldwin Café" is being filmed at the Baldwin Café in Lake Orion. The entire cast and crew is from Michigan. For more information, visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BaldwinCafeSeries.

The next step is finding sponsors and a deal to air the show on TV -- Patterson hopes by the first quarter of next year.

"Its hard to describe how wonderful to see this all happening," Sneed said.

Actress Lauren Candela of Troy plays Rose, wife of Sal. Candela went to Oakland University before transferring to Loyola University for the upcoming fall semester and is studying visual communications. She said acting is her goal.

"I've always loved it," she said. "You can be whoever you want."

So far the series has not been rated, but according to Patterson it's looking like it will be PG-13.